Label printing and dispensing machine



Aug. 25, 1964 P. SILVERSTEIN LABEL PRINTING AND DISPENSING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 1, 1960 INVENTOR. PAUL SILVEES TE IN BY gzi f A 7' TOENE Y5 Aug. 25, 1964 Filed Sept. 1, 1960 P. SILVERSTEIN 3,146,149

LABEL PRINTING AND DISPENSING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. PAUL save-25mm ATTORNEYS Aug. 25, 1964 P. SILVERSTEIN LABEL PRINTING AND DISPENSING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 1, 1960 INVBVTOR. PAUL SIL VERSTE/N ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,146,149 LABEL PRINTING AND DISPENSING MACHINE Paul Silverstein, 559 E. 21st St, Brooklyn, N.Y. Filed Sept. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 53,549 Claims. (Cl. 156-385) The invention here presented is broadly in the field of the label applicating art; more specifically it presents an automatic tape labeler; and in detail it is concerned with apparatus for printing and transferring pressure sensitive tickets from a carrier tape to an article.

While pressure sensitive ticket dispensers generally are well-known, their construction has limited their use.

In department stores or the like it is often necessary to indicate price and other information on each article to be sold. In even a relatively small establishment this job can be enormous. It is necessary to manually indicate the price and any other coding information directly on the article or first on a pressure sensitive ticket and then press the ticket on the article to be sold.

It is the cardinal object of this invention, therefore, to provide automatic adhesive ticket printing and affixing apparatus.

It is another object and accomplishment hereof to provide a device as above described that is relatively compact and which can be readily carried by an operator.

Still another object of this invention is to describe a pressure sensitive ticket printer and applicator that is economical to produce and has relatively few working parts.

A further object of this device is to describe a mechanism that will dis ense printed pressure sensitive tickets automatically, utilizing only one hand of the operator.

A further purpose of this invention is to set forth a pressure sensitive ticket dispenser which is readily and conveniently adjustable to accommodate different sizes of tickets.

An ancillary object of this invention is to set forth a new and improved method of feeding tape through any machine.

With these objects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will appear in the following specification and recited in the accompanying claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which the same reference numerals indicate the same parts throughout the various figures, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the invention, illustrating the parts in their normally inoperative position in phantom, and in the operative or ticket dispensing position in solid.

FIGURE 2 is a Side elevational view partly in section corresponding to FIGURE 1 but illustrating the parts only in their normal inoperative position.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the invention prior to the installation of the pressure sensitive ticket carrier reel. 7

FIGURE 4 is a detail view in section of the carrier tape activating means, and the frames.

FIGURE 5 is a detail sectional view of the ticket printer and the ticket dispensing means.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the tape actuating clutch.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention depicted, which may be for some purposes a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is illustrated generally an adhesive ticket printing and dispensing mechanism comprised generally of a reel A, a dispenser B, a printer C, a carrier tape actuator D and an actuating mechanism E.

The reel A, as is commonly known in the prior art, consists of a carrier tape 10 of a preferably waxed surface with pressure sensitive tickets 11 afiixed thereto.

3,146,149 Patented Aug 25, 1964 tioned on frame 12 to engage a center opening in the' reel A in such a manner as to allow rotation thereof. One I of the pivots 14 is spring biased towards reel A to pre vent free rotation thereof, and may bewithdrawn by means of a handle 16 for replacement of the tape.

As is seen clearly in FIGURES l and 2, the tape, with the tickets 11 upward is fed angularly downward through the length of the device to a lower tape dispensing means B rigidly secured to the main frame 12. As illustrated most clearly in FIGURE 5, the tape passes over a strip per bar 18 at a sharp or acute angle. As is common in the prior art, the adhesion of the tickets 11 to the backing 10 is sufliciently weak, whereby the tickets 11 will separate from the backing 10 at stripper bar 18 and will continue their downward path.

As will be explained in detail hereinafter, the tickets 11 when disengaged from the backing 10 will impinge and be fastened permanently on the article to be labelled. Simultaneously, with the afiixing of the ticket 11, a printing mechanism shown at C descends on the top surface of the said strip and will print such information as price, code number, serial number, etc., as well as press down and secure ticket 11 to the article.

It will be noted that many of the details of the printing device C are not described since they form no part of the present invention. It is contemplated that any of the well known printers may be substituted for the one disclosed.

The carrier tape 10, now separated from the tickets 11 doubles back through the device as shown in FIGURE 2. Serrated shafts 19 and 20 engage the carrier tape 10 and provide the actuating force to urge it through the apparatus. The serrations of each of the shafts 19 and 20 are relatively dull and under normal circumstanceswill not sever the carrier tape 10. The carrier tape 19 will either fall free after passing through shafts 19 and 20, if severed, or will continue rearward and pass out of.

the open back of the apparatus.

Each of the serrated shafts 19 and 20 are mounted for rotation to the main frame 12. One of the shafts 19 however, has integrally fastened at one end a pinion gear 21 arranged to be engaged by a vertically extending rack gear 22. Rack gear 22 is slidingly positioned and arranged to bear against lower frame member 24 during at least part of its travel. As illustrated, main frame 12 is adapted and arranged to slide vertically; relative to lower frame 24. When this occurs, the rack gear 22, which bears against lower frame 24, will move relative to and thereby rotate pinion gear 21, which is fastened to the main frame 12. As heretofore described, pinion gear 21 will rotate serrated shaft 19, further rotating serrated shaft 20 and urging the carrier tape 10 through the device.

It is necessary, however, to provide adjustment of the above described movement to accommodate different lengths of tickets 11. The adjustment is provided by an upper rack gear stop mechanism 25 consisting primarily of a threaded member 26, secured to a bar 28 integrally fastened to the top of rack gear 22 and urged downward by a tension spring 27. Rack gear 22 therefore will normally be urged downward into contact with lower frame 24 by tension spring 27. This action, however, is limited by threaded member 26 contacting the top of main frame 12 during one portion of the stroke. It will be seen then, that by adjusting threaded member 26 relative to bar 28 and rack gear 22, the stroke of rack gear 22 will be adjusted. When, for example, threaded member 26 is threaded the maximum distance downward, the effective length of travel of rack gear 22 relative to pinion gear 21 is reduced to a minimum, and vice versa.

As heretobefore described, the shafts 19 and 20 activated by pinion gear 21 and rack gear 22 pull the carrier tape through the apparatus and dispense the ticket 11. It is important, however, that shafts 19 and 20 move only in one direction; for if it were to reverse on the downstroke of the rack gear 22, the backing would be returned towards the reel A instead of passing out the back of the device. This necessary one way movement of shafts 19 and 20 may be accomplished by a slip clutch arrangement.

As illustrated most clearly in FIGURE 4, pinion gear 21 has an extending integral shaft 30. Serrated shaft 19 is hollow and is adapted to closely but loosely fit around pinion shaft 30. To permit serrated shaft 19 to rotate only in one direction, relative to pinion shaft 30, any slip clutch between the two should be provided. There is illustrated in FIGURE 6 one form of slip clutch, consisting of a groove of varying depths 34 in shaft 30, with a rod 31 fitting completely within the deepest part of the groove. One or more compression springs 35 are adapted to normally urge rod 31 towards a shallow portion of the groove 34 thereby causing it to wedge between shaft 30 and outer serrated shaft 19 providing a positive connection therebetween and further, insuring that serrated outer shaft 19 will rotate with inner pinion shaft 30 in one direction of travel. If inner pinion shaft 30 rotates in the opposite direction, however, the rod 31 will be caused, because of its pressure against 30, to ride into the deeper portion of groove 34 against the urging of spring 35. This will remove the positive contact between shafts 19 and 30, and pinion shaft 30 will rotate without transmitting the movement to outer shaft 19.

To positively prevent shaft 19 from rotating the wrong way it may be necessary to provide an idler gear 36 in contact therewith. Idler gear 36 has an outer serrated portion and an inner fixed center shaft. When shaft 19 turns in the proper manner, outer serrated portion of idler gear 36 slips on the inner fixed shaft allowing free rotation. If shaft 19 should attempt to reverse direction, a clutch, similar to the one above described, will lock outer serrated shaft of idler gear 36 to the inner fixed shaft preventing any rotation.

The main frame 12 and the lower frame 24 are normally urged apart by springs 40.

The operation of this device then is as follows:

A reel A is inserted in the apparatus, and the carrier tape is threaded initially through the machine as shown in FIGURE 2. The operator then merely holds the machine in one hand so that tape dispenser B is disposed over the article to be labelled. To activate the unit he presses downward with a relatively light pressure on the top, urging main frame member 12 down into lower frame member 24. The rack gear 22 thereby moves relative to pinion gear 21 providing rotation thereof of serrated shafts 19 and 20. This pulls the carrier tape through the machine a predetermined amount and disposes one ticket, as shown in FIGURE 5, securely on the article to be labelled. If a printer is provided, as further shown in FIGURE 5, it is separately activated by the relative movement of main frame 12 and lower frame 24 and will print any desired information on the ticket as it is impinged on the article. Serrated carrier tape 10 is fed out through the open rear of the device. When the operator lifts the apparatus from the article, lower frame 24 returns to its normal position as shown in FIGURE 2 under the urging of springs 40. During this return movement the rack gear 22 will rotate pinion gear 21; but not the shaft 19 because of the slip clutch arrangement provided therein.

Preferably the apparatus should have a cover alfixed over the top, with a suitable handle for ease of carrying and operation. The cover should further be easily removable or separable for the installation of the reel A and for the necessary threading.

While there are above disclosed but a limited number of embodiments of the structure, and product of the invention herein presented, it is possible to produce still other embodiments without departing from the inventive concept herein disclosed, and it is desired therefore that only such limitations be imposed on the appended claims as are stated therein, or required by the prior art.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for dispensing pressure sensitive tickets from a carrier tape to an article, comprising; a main frame to rotatably support said carrier tape, means to guide said tape to a lower stripper bar, means to bend said tape around said stripper bar at an acute angle whereby said pressure sensitive tickets will separate from said carrier tape and adhere to said article, at least two substantially parallel rotatable shafts fastened to said main frame, said rotatable shafts separated by a distance less than the thickness of said tape, means for guiding said tape between said rotatable shafts, and means for rotating said shafts periodically thereby advancing said tape a predetermined amount.

2. A device for dispensing pressure sensitive tickets from a carrier tape to an article, comprising; a main frame to rotatably support said carrier tape, means to guide said tape to a lower stripper bar, means to bend said tape around said stripper bar at an acute angle whereby said pressure sensitive tickets will separate from said carrier tape and adhere to said article, at least two substantially parallel rotatable shafts fastened to said main frame, said rotatable shafts separated by a distance less than the thickness of said carrier tape, means for guiding said tape between said rotatable shafts, and means for rotating said shafts periodically thereby advancing said tape a predetermined amount, said means for rotating including a rack and pinion, said pinion being attached to one of said shafts.

3. A device for dispensing pressure sensitive tickets from a carrier tape to an article, comprising; a main frame to rotatably support said carrier tape, means to guide said tape to a lower stripper bar, means to bend said tape around said stripper bar at an acute angle whereby said pressure sensitive tickets will separate from said carrier tape and adhere to said article, at least two substantially parallel rotatable shafts fastened to said main frame, said rotatable shafts supported by a distance less than the thickness of said tape, means for guiding said tape between said rotatable shafts, and means for rotating said shafts periodically thereby advancing said tape a predetermined amount, said means for rotating including a rack and pinion, said pinion being attached to one of said shafts, said rack normally extending below said frame whereby it will be urged upward and rotate said pinion when said device is pressed down on said article.

4. A device for dispensing pressure sensitive tickets from a carrier tape to an article, comprising; a main frame to rotatably support said carrier tape, means to guide said tape to a lower stripper bar, means to bend said tape around said stripper bar at an acute angle whereby said tickets will separate from said carrier tape and adhere to said article, at least two substantially parallel rotatable shafts fastened to said main frame, said rotatable shafts supported by a distance less than the thickness of said tape, means for guiding said tape between said rotatable shafts, and means for rotating said shafts periodically thereby advancing said tape a predetermined amount, said means for rotating including a rack and pinion, said pinion being attached to one of said shafts, said rack normally extending below said frame whereby 'it will be urged upward and rotate said pinion when said device is pressed down on said article, and printing means disposed adjacent said stripper bar, means to actuate said printing means immediately after said ticket is dispensed.

5. A device for dispensing pressure sensitive tickets from a carrier tape to an article, comprising; a main frame to rotatably support said carrier tape, means to guide said tape to a lower stripper bar, means to bend said tape around said stripper bar at an acute angle whereby said tickets will separate from said carrier tape and adhere to said article, at least two substantially parallel rotatable shafts fastened to said main frame, said rotatable shafts supported by a distance less than the thickness of said tape, means for guiding said tape between said rotatable shafts, and means for rotating said shafts periodically thereby advancing said tape a predetermined amount, said means for rotating including a rack and pinion, said pinion being attached to one of said shafts, said rack normally extending below said frame whereby it will be urged upward and rotate said pinion when said device is pressed down on said article, the spacial position of said rack relative to said frame being adjustable whereby the stroke of said rack can be varied, printing means disposed adjacent said stripper bar, and means to actuate said printing means immediately after said ticket is dispensed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 590,570 Forward Sept. 28, 1897 1,065,831 Neary June 24, 1913 1,201,829 Johnson Oct. 17, 1916 1,812,980 Penney July 7, 1931 2,522,224 Hedinger Sept. 12, 1950 2,569,140 Avery Sept. 25, 1951 2,582,979 Fritzinger Jan. 22, 1952 2,582,980 Fritzinger Ian. 22, 1952 2,634,877 Kaplan Apr. 14, 1953 2,656,063 Kafka Oct. 20, 1953 2,764,934 Kaplan Oct. 2, 1956 2,920,780 Hauschild et a1. Jan. 12, 1960 3,051,353 Krueger Aug. 28, 1962 3,093,528 Reich June 11, 1963 

1. A DEVICE FOR DISPENSING PRESSURE SENSITIVE TICKETS FROM A CARRIER TAPE TO AN ARTICLE, COMPRISING; A MAIN FRAME TO ROTATABLY SUPPORT SAID CARRIER TAPE, MEANS TO GUIDE SAID TAPE TO A LOWER STRIPPER BAR, MEANS TO BEND SAID TAPE AROUND AND STRIPPER BAR AT AN ACUTE ANGLE WHEREBY SAID PRESSURE SENSITIVE TICKETS WILL SEPARATE FROM SAID CARRIER TAPE AND ADHERE TO SAID ARTICLE, AT LEAST TWO SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL ROTATABLY SHAFTS FASTENED TO SAID MAIN FRAME, SAID ROTATABLE SHAFT SEPARATED BY A DISTANCE LESS THAN THE THICKNESS OF SAID TAPE, MEANS FOR GUIDING SAID TAPE BETWEEN SAID ROTATABLE SHAFTS, AND MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID SHAFTS PERIODICALLY THEREBY ADVANCING SAID TAPE A PREDETERMINED AMOUNT. 